就臺灣中部平埔村社而言，其受到外力的衝擊始於十七世紀，尤其在清治時期（即十七世紀末以來至十九世紀末），其社會變遷之急速、社群互動之頻繁，為前所未有。本文以文獻紀錄、遊記、探險紀錄等資料為主，從清代「社」的性質，考察清治下臺灣中部濁水溪至鳳山溪之間的社群互動關係。筆者將從「社」的多重性質考察，分析影響本區平埔社群關係發展的因素，一則描述外力介入前平埔族群彼此間固有的互動網絡，一則考察清治下不同村社如何在統治策略的操縱下，影響復此的互動，並檢視過去有關平埔社群組織鬆散、各自為政的部落社會特質成說的適用性。 清代以「社」統稱土著村落，以有別於漢人的「庄」。然而除了自然形成的村社、血緣或地域社群的性質外，清治下的「社」也作為餉稅單位，清政府甚至透過跨社設公職人員（如通事等）的行政措施將某些村社統轄、整合在一起，因此在十八世紀九○年代得以依據村社社會關係網絡、地理關聯性，實施番屯制。簡言之，除了自然村社、血緣或地域社群為平埔社會自然發展的結果外，其餘均與外力入殖有關。因此，就清治下「社」的多重性質之釐清，有助於我們對平埔社群督係的了解，也是勾勒平埔村社關係發展軌跡並釐清社群互動因素之不二法門。

Using historical data, travelogues, and expedition records, this study examines the factors affecting the development of relationship between plains aborigine tribes in central Taiwan and their interaction. Under the Ch’ing government, all aborigine tribes were name She 社, while their Han counterparts were called Chuang 庄. Tribes of plains aborigines in central Taiwan came under the impact of external influence beginning from the 17th century. In particular, during the Chi’ing Dynasty (late 17th to latte 19th century), social changes were rapid and interactions between tribes were intense. In the light of the multi-nature of She, this paper describes the original interaction network of the plains aborigine tribes and how Ch’ing governing policies changed the patterns of interaction among them. Apart from being a regional community with blood ties, She also serves as a unit for tax collection. To facilitate administration, the Ch’ing government grouped and integrated tribes in the same geographical location and appointed officials to organize tribal network and aborigine military colonies 番屯制. This perspective challenges the prevailing conception that plains aborigine tribes were loosely organized, with independent administrative structure and little interaction. Rather, the external influence from the government played a significant role in fostering closer relationship and more frequent interaction among tribes. In sum, reviewing the multi-nature of She would shed light on understanding the development of relationship between plains aborigine tribes and the factors affecting their interaction.